Book Review: We Are Girls Who Love to Run

My daughter, Paige (6), and I have been given the opportunity to review We Are Girls Who Love to Run by Brianna Grant.



This bilingual book is also written in Spanish, hence the additional title, Somos Chicas y A Nosotras Nos Encanta Correr. As you turn each page, each verse is written in English first and then repeated in Spanish.



Paige is a six year old kindergartner who is pretty enthusiastic about reading right now. She was very excited to read through this fun book. Brianna also include a really thoughtful letter to Paige, regarding the book and the sport of running. I was so touched by what she wrote. Paige will be bringing her book and cover letter to kindergarten for show-and-tell sometime soon.



The illustrations are really quite breath-taking. Nicholas A Wright did a beautiful job with the paintings in the book. Since Paige cannot read full sentences yet, I read the book to her and she really enjoyed looking at the motivational illustrations, as I turned the pages of the book. I really enjoyed that there were so many different types of girls and women included in this book. There were young girls of different color and shapes and sizes and their running role models and coaches in the book were of the same variety. The book really represented "all women" and everyone could identify with someone in this book.

Even if your child does not run, he or she will enjoy it. This book does not follow one child's story or journey. Instead, it follows "all girls" and their passion for life and their confidence in themselves and the choices they make. It embraces making healthy choices as habits as well as introducing goal-setting. It also touches on involving your family, friends and community in your every day life and activities.

At the end of the book, there is a nice entry from girls and women and their thoughts on running. They were asked why they loved to run, which encouraged me to ask my own daughter why she has tried the sport. Her answer was, "Because running helps me stay fit and I get the chance to run with my mom during my 'training'. I like having people cheer me on at my races and say, Go Paige!".

The book shows young girls that goal-setting is important. As two girls finish a local 5K race, they prove to themselves that all of their hard work and commitment (to themselves) has really paid off and they have accomplished their goal. This can be applied to so many areas of life.

The discusses healthy eating habits. It is neat to see a young girl shopping with her mother at the local farmer's market. The book mentions that she is helping her mom pick out healthy foods for her healthy after-school snacks. I joked with Paige. Because she (usually!) is the one begging for me to pick up strawberries from the grocery store and is the girl taking carrots and dip to her school parties, instead of sugary treats!

There is also a beautiful forward included in this book, endorsed by the found of the Girls on the Run Program, which I love so very much! Molly Barker is so motivating with her message to young girls and young women.

My daughter and I both enjoyed reading this book together before bedtime. We will enjoy re-reading it for years to come. This book is truly awesome and will remind you and your child why you do what you do and how everyone benefits from it.

Pick up your copy today! Why not purchase one for your little girl for Valentine's Day?